A Day in the Life of the KKK: Anthony Karen talks trust & photojournalism

Photographer Anthony Karen has built a career around gaining access to ostensibly inaccessible societies. After a trip to Haiti documenting Vodou rituals, he has gone on to photograph white supremacist groups, the infamous Westboro Baptist Church and the Ku Klux Klan. His compelling photos and unrestricted access to the KKK resulted in a collaboration with the Discovery Channel, and slate.com has published an interesting profile of his work, in which he explains his approach.

In Slate.com's profile of Karen he explains his methods. Of his approach to storytelling, Karen says "I prefer documenting long-term stories, because I feel a story can always be improved upon; there's always some nuance that you'll discover with subsequent trips. This methodology has proven helpful as I develop as a photojournalist."

A member of the Louisiana-based Dixie Rangers of the Ku Klux Klan displays her custom-made wedding veil as her fiancé looks on. Photo by Anthony Karen.

Slate also quotes an earlier interview with FotoEvidence, in which Karen spoke about earning trust with members of these extremely secretive societies. "I spend time with people, I listen to what they have to say, and I treat each person as an individual. I don't have to believe what they believe, but whenever I’m in someone's space, I feel I'm obliged to observe without judgment.That's not to say I wouldn't intervene if I felt a situation called for it, but I choose to observe moment to moment and simply take in what I see and experience without presumption or pretext."

Members from a Midwestern-based Klan realm on a flyer drive. Photo by Anthony Karen.

Many photographers will identify with his statement on self-critique: "The more time and experience I amass, the deeper my self-criticism has become, even in editing, but hopefully always for the better of a project. I find I challenge myself more and always strive to go even deeper."

Read the full article from Slate and take a look at more of Anthony Karen's work via the links below.

Comments

Earlier, marike6 wrote, "... Hate Speech is against the law in the US, so no, people absolutely cannot say ALL stupid stuff ..."

You can hate, but you can't hurt.

The First Amendment protects Freedom of Speech, so of course people can and do say all sorts of hateful stuff, and we-the-people's self-governance fight to protect that right.

It's against the law to hurt others; speech that cascades into hurtful actions becomes a great source of civil (and perhaps criminal) liability; the Southern Poverty Law Center's suits bankrupt the KKK over this.

Me? I get frustrated when people think that photography is a permissioned activity, and they have superior rights over my own photography, over my speech, over my free speech.

Photography is speech; photography is free speech; let's all participate in the discussion by making cameras and photography as normal and expected everywhere, all the time, photographing everything -- let's keep our cameras in sight and in use wherever we are.

Certainly there is not anything completely novel in this work. The idea of access has been an intrinsic concern of photojournalism from the onset: Reis, Evans, Lange and on and on. And, also, for photographers not overtly thought of as photojournalists - much of Arbus' work speaks to the idea access. And this motif continues to present. Taryn Simon and her images of cryogenic chambers, interiors of nuclear facilities, etc. are removed from standard notions of photojournalism yet very resonant within wider artistic dialogues relating to issues of representation. And so, I tend to relate to Karen's work perhaps as more closely positioned to this dialog about representation than photojournalism, although he and the author of the article put it firmly in the cadre of photojournalism. I suppose this might be reduced to semantics. The edges of categorizations seem to be quickly dissolving in contemporary circumstance. The five W's mentioned in a previous post hit my ear as forgotted dogma. But who can claim its outmodedness definitely? I am certainly not comfortable in doing so. While I feel more resonance in Simon's articulation of the forbidden, her work and Karen's seem interested in very different things. The latter, featured here, focuses on select taboo groups - although it can be argued that they are soft taboos, and in the saturated media culture we exist in currently, access seems hardly groundbreaking. Still, I think in terms of methodology - an actively removed judgement - there are some interesting results here, and decently compelling photographs. In terms of representation, they are images neither celebratory nor critical. That is not to say that they can be described as truly objective, a next to impossible task in photography of any sort. But, these images interest me more than a potentially heavy-handed exposés of these groups would; and I believe such work would lack a certain control and nuance shown here. Any moral component, should there be one, comes from a dialog more by-product of rather than commentary in this work. And this is not to entirely dismiss the moralizing criticism of some taking issue with the production and promotion of these images. I am just choosing not to have that be the basis of my commentary.

Weird...everyone's complaining about the subject, but I haven't seen one comment on the quality of the photography, which I find to be inspirational!(sorry if I missed someones comment about the actual photography, but it's been drowned by all the self righteous commentary).

It seems ironic to me loads of people are complaining about the photographers subjects, yet completely ignore the photography!!

What do you find so inspiring about the photography in the above three images? It's certainly far better than I could do, but "inspirational"? I may be missing something though.

Is it that the photographer broke rules compositionally by cutting off body parts? Is it the light? Compositions? Post-processing?

National Geographic and NY Times have photojournalist who are technically and artistically superb. I get both delivered and the photography is stunning.

The most interesting aspect of the above images is the subject matter, IMHO. The photography? I'm wondering what you and DPR found so "compelling" about the above images.

As for "all the self-righteous commentary", it's completely understandable in this case, wouldn't you say? With any anti-social behavior, crime or child slavery, for example, it's not at all unreasonable for the average person to raise moral questions. Not sure what you object to and why you consider commenters as being "self-righteous" but OK.

"What do you find so inspiring about the photography in the above three images? It's certainly far better than I could do..."

When someone does something better than I could, I find it inspirational.

It's nothing technical at all, nor the three images above. I like the whole body of work which tells a story & makes me wonder how in this day & age such groups still exist & how they can be so open about it & apparently proud. It's a powerful set of images.

"Not sure what you object to and why you consider commenters as being "self-righteous" but OK"

I object to people suggesting these articles should not be shown because they don't happen agree with them. What gives them the right to decide what others (I) should or shouldn't see? I'm glad I've seen these images as it's given me a perspective I haven't seen.

I don't see this as glorifying the Klan. I look at this and see that parts of poor white America haven't progressed since the 1950s. Nothing aspirational about ugly people in ugly locations with their ugly ideas and beliefs. Almost inspires pity but worthwhile photographically IMO.

What is the point of photojournalism, or journalism for that matter? I just don't get the point of this photo essay. At best, it is vacuous and states a very silly truism -- gaining trust of one's subject matter as a photographer is important.

What news is Karen trying to bring out? The existence of the Klan is not a news flash. What burning social questions is he trying to address?

In Canada, activists did serious to make sure the Klan could not come north. Their politics are truly reactionary and retrograde, and the Slate article portrays them as some quaint, obscure, secret society. The fact that he (and Slate and DPR) seems to have to little to say about an organization that has as history of seriously criminal activities, seems to be an indictment of photojournalism/journalism, more than anything else.

What would anyone of your say if someone posted this series on one of the forums? Nice captures? Good lighting?

Isn't this what people talk about when they refer to the banality of evil?

I don't get his indifference to such a serious subject matter. I'm reminded of the lyrics to a song by Rage Against the Machine -- "Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses." Is that where he is coming from as a former Marine?

What's next, one wonders? A photo essay or book on child molesters, people into bestiality? Surely that will give Mr. Karen a nice challenge in gaining people's trust.

The history is well documented, and is the past. What's the reality like for a family which sees the KKK not as we outside see it, but as something which brings worth to their lives? How can that view of theirs be altered? It's easy to sit in a comfortable chair and say "they're evil because of the history of the organization", but all that will do is entrench them even more.

Their ideals may be twisted and wrong to us, but simply stating that won't change them. It takes a lot more, an ability to change the undermining of those values, and that can't be done through just stonewalling them.

And if a negative or destructive message gets out the solution is not to block it from coming out, thus making it mysterious, but to bring it into the light and counter it with reasoned argument, showing the flaws in it. Anyone claiming to be convinced by the platform provided here was already convinced.

+1. It's odd that the book that Slate is promoting is called "White Pride" without the slightest hint of irony. As a white man when I see images of groups like this all I feel is shame and embarrassment.

And I felt quite isolated in my objections below to this article and to the Klan in general. And a few posters below vehemently objected to my raising concerns as if groups like this are perfectly socially acceptable.

theswede, your rationalizations/justifications for this why this item about the Klan is journalistically/socially relevant are quite a stretch.

You suggest that people look down on them from a comfortable existence. Their social conditions have dehumanized/marginalized them but instead of rising above it, they've been incited to take up as their burning cross to bear to inflict the same on others.

People actively oppose racism in the U.S. and elsewhere by fighting for their rights. What's comfortable about that? People even do it with photography/photojournalism. I can't see that this is what Karen/Slate/DPR are doing. They present Karen's work as a peculiar kind of voyeurism. None of them say what you claim, that promoting this work has an aim to reach out to the Klan and sort them out.

Are you saying that now you feel compelled to get out of your armchair engage with your local Klansmen and show them the error of their ways? Let us know how that works out for you.

marike6, yeah, I don't get the indifference or that this is somehow just any old photographic subject. There are people alive today who lived through a period in the U.S. when lynching was not uncommon.

If someone started dropping the n-word on the forums, how long would that last? Why do Karen/Slate/DPR want to promote the Klan, which does far worse?

Maybe the best thing is to check out of this thread and not contribute any more undue attention to it.

NotSteve, I'm right there with you. I spent yesterday and today trying to reason with people and voice my displeasure about the reprinting to the Slate article here only to be shouted down by the pack.

A few others also pointed out that this article is bad form, and that some users might not be comfortable with the piece but apparently the term "photojournalism" can provide cover for pretty much anything, no matter how bizarre. Maybe there is a strange fascination with extremist groups, like a train wreck that you can't look away from. ???

Some brought up censorship, but hate speech is illegal. And certainly the cross burning image in the original Slate.com article would at the very least qualify as highly objectionable due to the history of how cross burning is used by the Klan. It has in fact been outlawed in 2003 (Virginia vs Black) even though cases must also show intent to intimidate.

But I'm glad that someone else is recognizing some of the issues of this article.

people who see the KKK and go on to assume all white people are going to be bigoted and racialist, are just as prejudiced as people who see a news story about a black criminal and assume all black people are criminal.

therefore, I feel no shame at being a white male, the same as the KKK male gang members.

what I feel shame is that our society still has living members of these kinds of organisations; that the spotlight of progressive multiculturalism and education hasn't shone into these dark corners of the USA and shown them for what they are.

marike6: I am certainly not a Constitutional scholar but hate speech much be far more direct than most believe in order to depart from Constitutional free speech protection. For instance, if one were to display a Nazi-appearing swastika (nevermind other historical uses of the swastika) that is not hate speech as it is not a direct declaration of hate, but rather a speculation of the intent of the symbol. Overt literature by these groups can be targeted, but often it is the incitement of violence that becomes the means of limiting speech and violation of law. They may be uncomfortable and objectionable to many but the whole body of images here come no where remotely close to meeting the burden of freespeech exemption.

He is aiming at a cockroach on the paper on the wall. A woman and a child are cowering against any potential ricochet. Is this a powerful social statement or just another instance of the truism, "All you need for a movie is a girl and a gun"

Wade Davis investigated the 'Voudo' of Haiti many years ago, this is hardly a new frontier for Mr. Karen to break into. The KKK, while noteworthy, is in reality quite boring and extremely fringe segment of society. Westboro Baptist Church, well they get enough press already - no need to give them more.

I don't think I have seen an article about the KKK in the last ten years or more. If I have it has just been a footnote. To most of the world they're a mysterious, almost completely unknown organization, and the way they live is a complete blank.

That has just changed. And the revelation has removed much of the air of mystery from the organization.

...which this website quite clearly provides and to suggest otherwise is utterly ridiculous.

The internet is not limited by size. It is quite possible for a website such as DPReview to provide reviews of cameras and gear (as it does very well) AND provide stories that are related to the subject of digital photography.

I don't see what your problem is, excepting the subject matter of the story?

If your, um, "insight" is limited to such epiphanies as "the internet is not limited by size" it is not surprising that you cannot see the problem.

This "story" is "related to the subject of digital photography" only in the sense that there are photographs provided. The site's title is "Digital Photography Review" and whenever someone points out that a review of one model or another isn't there yet, or isn't there at all, a staffer will point out that "reviews take time" or "we have so many things to review" etc. -- provided of course they respond at all.

Given the excuses, I'd rather see more attention paid to reviews rather than fluff "articles" intended simply to drive more traffic to the site.

Your statement about Anthony Karen, that he "has gone on to photograph white supremacist groups, the infamous Westboro Baptist Church and the Ku Klux Klan." implies that Westboro Baptist Church is a whie supremacist group akin to the KKK, which is not true. Fred Phelps, for all his vitriol against homosexuals, does not profess the superiority of the white "race", but rather the opposite. He was active in the civil rights movement at a time when few other attorneys were (yes, he is an attorney). He took cases others wouldn't. He and his followers argue that race is inconsequential to standing in law. Read the article linked below.

Some are trying to make this about free speech, suggesting that DPR is some beacon lighting the way for free speech by posting "A Day in the Life of the KKK" stories. DPR uses an expletive filter as curse words offend some users. Just like some don't want to read curse words, some users don't want to login to DPR to see "A Day in the Life of the KKK" images. Even though this story is more about photographing the secretive, typically clandestine KKK, some users may find these images offensive because of what the KKK stands for. In that sense they are not appropriate for DPR.

So I'm not interested in seeing stories dealing with extremists as there are enough great photographers covering more positive things to last a whole year of stories. Obviously others with different perspectives aren't outraged by groups like this. That's fine too. But judging by the extremely contentious comments I'd say that politics or ethics are not at all good topic for a site like DPR.

I am not sure that those people you refer to as "Some users do not want to login to DPR and see a day in the life of the KKK" are a majority, or that politics and ethics are not a good topic for DPR.I want to see pictures made by a photographer with something to say that support discussion about issues and ideas. Such pictures deal with the way things "Look" rather than repeating the ubiquitous fantasies of lifestyle advertising, fashion & celebrity bumpf that plaques our visual culture.Your suggestion to use " great photographers covering more positive things" is just as contentious ethically and politically. Anthony Karen's work shows the tendency of photographers to "point the camera down" as a strategy. There is always an audience for images of others who are different in preference to looking at ourselves.Most of Anthony Karen's portfolios on his website deal with the USA - would criticisms about his work be so strong if it dealt with a world further away?

I'm more offended by shows like Breaking Bad glorifying violence and extremist approaches to life. The one thing I have taken away from the photos shown here is how much I do not want a life like the one they live, and how much less mysterious and glamorous it is then it seems when marginalized and pushed out of view.

@justinwonnacott Not critical of Karen who is just doing his thing. DPR found the Slate article compelling and thought people here would enjoy a link to it (and judging by the comments, most did). It's their website.

@calking You are right, people who aren't interested in creepy White Supremacy groups or how a white photographer got close enough to them to publish a book called "White Pride" (available on iTunes or your favorite bookseller) can ignore the Slate article or the above reference to the Slates article.

As for why I come here, DPR is a photo gear website where people come to talk about photo gear and read camera reviews. Shocking.

@theswedeBreaking Bad does not glorify violence or drugs. Watch the show instead of copying what others he have incorrectly written in this thread. Type the "KKK" into Google for 38 million hits and 11,000 hits on Amazon. Stacks and stacks of volumes have been written about them, they have not been "pushed out of view".

And how many of those hits and books are about the everyday life of KKK members? This is the first I have ever seen published about that, removing the air of mystery and the radical view on a secretive and exclusive organization.

As to your denial of the selling aspects of Breaking Bad, that tells us a lot about your worldview. And no, you do not speak for most educated people in the US and worldwide; you hardly even speak for yourself. You only whine.

Whatever. There are literally hundreds of complete volumes, thousands of articles and a number of films devoted to the KKK. Photos don't tell a thing about their abhorrent views or their many misdeeds throughout history.

Nobody is stopping you from learning about Klan.

But don't try to lecture me about my worldview, or moralize about a fictional TV show. I could not possibly care less what you think about me or American television.

I know about the KKK already. What I don't know is how the members live, what their homes are like. Now I got a glimpse into that, in addition to learning about how a photojournalist goes about getting such a glimpse into a secretive world.

By contrast, all I get from you are whining and defensive comments about how "most" people agree with your whining.

Tell you what, if this offends you so badly you can't stop your whining, go someplace else!

@theswede, you obviously don't know a thing about prejudice in the United States. I would never try to lecture you about race relations in Sweden, so don't try to teach me about prejudice here in the US.

Having lived in the US, in some, shall we say, less desirable parts of town, I apparently know more than you. And at the very least I can take a stand for what I hold and not hide behind "most educated people in the US and worldwide" (as if) or "most" people here, or even "if I was black".

If you have beef with the article, state it clearly and stand for it. If you don't, stop your tepid whining.

And you are quite correct you're not my buddy; my buddies stand for what they say, and don't say "all the best" and "have a wonderful day" after hurling vapid insults.

@DPRPlease don't let the knee-jerk reactions about race by some people commenting in this thread prevent you from covering future stories about photographers who shoot controversial subjects. This was a great article about a great photographer. All signal, no noise.

The best way to hold onto power is to pit one group against another. The biggest fear of the ruling class is if the poor of all races and religion see the predatory capitalist and bought off politician as the enemy, not their neighbor.

The haters like the Klan, Tea Party, and the Nation of Islam play right into the hands of those who profit from our division. The monied class wants us fighting over the scraps that trickle down on us. Wake up, grow up.

I agree with you mostly but the TEA Party is just old people who don't want to be taxed to death. Lots of propaganda against them because they want a smaller govt and less spend and tax. How is that extreme or racist? Cries of racism are usually a sign of loss of an argument or a shake down. The real enemy is big govt and those who bribe them not the left or right or fringe elements.

All photographers are welcome to come to Tea Party meetings. You can picture us saying the Pledge of Allegiance. If you are quick, you can get a shot of one of our extreme members picking up litter, we are known for that.

Marike6I don't want the US to be on par with the rest of the world. The govt does not need half my money or even a quarter. Govt is just a business with a mafia twist. All those big govt dependent programs need to be gotten rid of. Johnson and his "The Great Society" is just fancy wording for govt dependence.

And so many here want to continue ignorning them. Fighting ignorance and hatred with more ignorance and hatred won't accomplish anything. Pity these people, try to educate them, and use kindness to counter their evil. And the second they threaten anyone with violence make it clear it won't be tolerated, but never fire the first shot. And should you be forced to fire the second shot aim true.

I think that it is valuable work to document their existence and way of life. They do exist and as they do, it is better that we understand them and their reasons for being a member of such an organization.

Capturing events as they happen is part of photojournalism. We are used to seeing all sorts of terrible images from wars and revolutions around the world.

This mixed race photographer is well aware of what that organization would make of me.

Sorry for replying to myself I just wrote a reply to a comment that was removed and I don't want to wast most of my reply.

By reading the many posts apparently it is good policy to not photograph groups you disagree with and they will go away. I want the actions of the KKK, New Black Panthers, Al-Qaeda on and on documented. Shine a light on each. What should not be done is promotion through a politically correct lens. That is when photography becomes dangerous.

When stores refused to carry Rolling Stone magazine with the Boston bomber on the cover, I didn't agree with their decision, but I could understand it. Glorification of violent, extremist or racist groups, intentional or unintentional, is never a good thing.

But the KKK and Nazism for example, are some of the most written about groups in history. There are volumes and volumes of literature on these groups. So no, I don't think that it's a story that needs to be told. It's been told, over and over again.

Free speech laws in the US cover everything but hate speech. But photographing or writing about these groups is fine.

The problem is a story showing the KKK in everyday life humanizes them, whether intentional or not. Shining a light on extremist groups may sound like a good idea, if somewhat idealistic, but judging by how prevalent racism continues to be, I'd say marginalizing them is a better course of action.

marike6, the US government today will kill those it does not like with remote controlled bombs. That is much more extreme violence than lynching, and is what the US government itself calls terrorism. Just using violence does not make anyone a monster. One has to understand what's behind a behaviour in order to change it.

They are two of the best shows and I'm not alone in feeling that way as they have won more Emmy and industry awards than pretty much any other two dramas. But they are fictional and not at all related to this topic.

Besides, the violence on those shows is not at all gratuitous, nor is it meant to glorify. They deal with morally conflicted characters who appear to lead normal suburban lives but whose behavior is deeply antisocial.

@marike6Some would argue the KKK is at war, and who are you to decide either way?

I see some 10 year olds in the photos of the KKK linked here. Do they hold the same biased view of reality you do? Do they think the lives of their relatives are governed by hate? Do their relatives? Do the KKK wizards? Who elected your their spokesperson and/or judge?

In short, where do you think you get the right to speak for the rest of us and decide what we should and should not see photos of?

"My biased view of reality"? Are you joking? I can judge them because historically their behavior has been antisocial, even sociopathic. My view of the KKK and all violent extremist groups is the conventional one, shared by the majority of normal, educated people in the US and worldwide.

Nowhere did I say that DPR doesn't have the right to publish whatever it wants to or that I spoke for anyone but myself.

Marike6 is selective with the definitions of "Humanize" presented. Another valid definition is, "To portray or endow with human characteristics or attributes; make human".

JDThomas makes good points. The members of the KKK are human. They are NOT unique, there are groups with similar outlooks all over the world, so the KKK without doubt illustrates part of the human character, though they're an extreme manifestation of our dark side. What is useful about these photos, besides the photographer having earned the trust of the KKK, is that the photos in their blunt, documentary nature show how sad and devoid of dynamism these people are.

Extremism - One who advocates or resorts to measures beyond the norm, especially in politics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremist_Groups#United_States

Are you actually arguing that the Klan has a valid opinion, and asking "who am I do decide that their point of view is extreme"? I don't know if there are similar groups in Sweden, but I can assure you the majority of people in the US don't consider their extreme views on race to be socially acceptable or normal. The whole concept of "extremism" is that it's outside the conventions and mores of society.

@marike6I am arguing that the pictures and stories should stand for themselves, without your biased prejudice. You've already decided the humans depicted aren't worthy to be depicted, and you have decided that "the majority of educated people in the US and worldwide" are with you.

We're not. For the most part us "educated people" have a nuance understanding of the world and know that people do not become extremists because they're caricatures. And we most certainly do not advocate marginalizing humans in an effort to suppress them.

In short, "educated people in the US and worldwide" consider you an extremist, and your stance abhorrent.

You misunderstood. Above, you asked "who am I to judge the Klan"? To which I said that the majority of the world considers groups like the Klan, Neo-Nazis, etc as extreme in their views which are outside of the mainstream. That's all I said.

I never said people shouldn't photograph or write about them. Much has been written about the Klan. But yes, I do believe that groups like this should be, and are already marginalized. We are living in a post racial society in many ways, and old notions of racial divisions are becoming less valid. And hate based solely on racial and religious differences is extremely prevalent in all modern societies but should not be.

Maybe because you are not American, you don't understand the kind of pain such groups like the Klan have caused normal, hardworking African-Americans, but I stand with my African American brothers and sisters.

But I'm not advocating censorship at all, but don't feel DPR is the place for Klan images.

@marike6: You are such a HYPOCRITE. Haha. Because it's on TV and fictional and wins awards makes it OK? If there was a television show that had the KKK on it cracking racist jokes and killing people would you find it compelling as long as it had a good camera work and scripting?

And using Breaking Bad as an example. Season 5 episode 8. Walt PAYS people from the Aryan Nation prison gang to MURDER people. They never even make a point that it's WRONG. And you're OK with that? How is that NOT glamorizing racism, drug dealing, and murder? Because it's a TV show?

You're a straight up HYPOCRITE if you can say that DPR reposting an article about a PHOTOGRAPHER is not OK, but glorifying drugs, racism, and murder in the name of "entertainment" is OK.

Programs like Breaking Bad and the Sopranos are way more subversive because the DO entertain and make heroes out of villains.

@JDThomas First of all, I never said DPR didn't have a right to post images of the KKK. Of course they do. Like others here, I said that even though the article is not really about the Klan per se it's a sensitive, highly charged topic.

As far as Breaking Bad, most normal people realize that such shows are FICTION. A work of art that portrays violence and human nature as part of the story is not at all the same as an action film with tons of bloodshed and gratuitous violence. If you don't understand that, you either haven't seen either show, or perhaps you don't understand the subtle difference.

But seriously, jump down off my back. All I said was that images of the KKK may not be the best choice of subject matter for a wide range of DPR members. It's a bit insensitive to assume that ALL people have a high tolerance for portrayals of an extremist group like the Klan. A black southerner, for example, might have a totally different reaction to these images than you or I.

You just completely ignore your hypocritical statements. You make my argument for me. To wit:

"most normal people realize that such shows are FICTION"

Most normal people also realize that these KKK people portrayed in the photos don't have an acceptable view of humanity.

"It's a bit insensitive to assume that ALL people have a high tolerance for portrayals of an extremist group like the Klan. A black southerner, for example, might have a totally different reaction to these images than you or I."

Then it is also insensitive to air these violent TV shows over the public airwaves. An Italian American may be offended at the stereotypical portrayal of them as gangsters in the Sopranos. A white American may be offended by the fact that they only portray white people as meth addicts on Breaking Bad.

I'm not "on your back". I'm just pointing out the fundamental flaws in your logic.

I said "most normal people" when I should have said MOST PEOPLE realize Breaking Bad is a work of fiction and that violence is but a small part of the story, yet you continue to try to draw parallels to fictional images on TV to images of a real and dangerous extremist group.

I guess I'm not a fan of free publicity whether it's for the Klan or the Birther wackos. But I'm not in favor of censorship unless it's of hate groups or other extremists. Even then, censorship is a slippery slope.

But at this point I don't care anymore. I wish I had never entered this discussion. All the best.

@marike6You alternate between "these people should not get free publicity" and "I am not against these people getting free publicity", you claim to speak for a majority of educated people around the world in this, and you use phrases like "if I was black".

You're not worth the effort. Continue building outrage over humans depicted as humans if you please. I no longer care.

I said if I were a black DPR user I might not be too pleased with images of the Klan which is not related at all to comments about most educated people's views of extremist groups like the KKK.

Not sure what you are even arguing for, but seem to have an interest in almost defending the Klan as you keep talking sympathetically about "humans being being humans". I couldn't care less if they are humans. So are Nazis, Al Qaeda, Skinheads, et al. Being human doesn't give people the right to behave badly toward others of difference races or religions.

I read the newspaper and watch the news every single day, I don't come to DPR to see the Klan, militias, gangs, or terrorist groups.

Not trying to build outrage because obviously anything goes with DPR readers. Not my thing, but c'est le vie.

So ignore the content you don't like and focus on arguing camera specs with others, which is what this site is about.

And for what it's worth, I don't think "most" Americans are loving the tidal wave of illegal Mexican migrants into this country, including African-Americans. It's just not politically correct to complain about it.

Does not matter. You are endorsing hate and racism with the subject matter. Their is no reason to give free advertising to these individuals. This is not typical art work to frame for your work office. Leave the photo's to the photographers personal web site. Is this web site regulated in any way by Countries that lack of a better way to say it, just frown on publicly expressing hatred and racism. Does Germany have and I thought they had a Neo-Nazi law and I know the US has laws like this. The photographers web site with photos of voodoo and showing what the Jews do as ritual is self contained to their way of life. The way of life for the KKK and Neo-Nazi's are to intentionally cause and perpetrate hate. Photography is one thing, subject matter is something else. You need to know your audience and again this web site reaches the World and everyone with internet access. It is just like a hate crime to promote or advertise. It is not responsible to publish this subject matter IMO

Ryan, educating the world and exposing us to a reality we would otherwise never see is a good thing. If you simply document the behavior of these people there is no promotion of hate or their ideas, but instead we get to see that people like this still exist and we have more work to do in order to eliminate hatred and ignorance. People become complacent when they don't see this kind of thing at their doorstep, so this can be seen as a reminder and a call to action.The only way to fight hatred and ignorance is to love and educate. Sensoring the world will only serve to create more ignorance and misunderstanding. The only thing that should be outlawed is actively insighting violence. Banning books or certain speech or groups only gives them an air of importance they otherwise would not have, thus giving them more power. You can't fight ignorance by promoting ignorance.

The article is not condoning racism nor is the photographer by covering it. Furthermore, none of the pictures shows any violence, racial or otherwise (aside from the killing of a roach by BB gun, which may be a poor choice of tool but no more a violent action than throwing a shoe at it). The photos show the lifestyle of a group of people you don't identify with. I've never seen this type of thing either. I find it strange and interesting that people like this exist. These photos aren't going to turn me racist by looking at them anymore than looking at Playboy centerfold will turn me into a sex fiend.

I agree with Ryan. I don't support ANYTHING that gives a platform to the KKK or any other such extremist group like Westboro Baptist. There are enough interesting topics for DPR to write about. Leave this stuff to the NY Times or Time magazine or the history books where it belongs.

Just like I won't listen to Howard Stern when he has that recurring KKK member on the air, I have no interest in reading about the Klan. I'm against censorship in all forms except when it come to "hate speech", but I think DPR could choose to avoid this subject for editorial reasons. Judging by some of the comments below equating the KKK with a positive group like NAACP, I think such articles tend to humanize and in a sense legitimatize extremist groups that should be completely marginalized forever, once and for all.

@marike6: Just because you don't find the article interesting doesn't mean others don't. Last time I checked, and maybe Barney can correct me on this, but DPR doesn't exist solely for the purpose of entertaining YOU alone.

"DPR giving a platform, even indirectly to a subversive group like the KKK."

This is a bizarre leap of logic. We've featured the work of conflict photographers on here - does that mean we're promoting war? We've featured astrophotography - are we invading the privacy of alien beings?

It's the same as stores like CVS and Walmart not carrying the Rolling Stone cover featuring the Boston Bomber. For people in Boston for whom the pain of the bombing was a real and traumatic, seeing the Boston Bomber on the cover was too painful. Think of how your African American readers feel reading about the KKK in 2013. If I were black, even if I loved photography, the last group I would want to read about on my favorite photography website would be the KKK. Some topics are too painful, and bring up all kinds of issues that should not have to be re-lived over and over again.

And certainly astrophotography and a group with a history of lynching blacks and burning crosses are two completely different things.

"The subject is beside the point." What The...? The subject is the point he not going to photo an people playing bridge in a nurse home. BORING! He picked out the subject matter for better/worst would get the most attendtion.

The KKK as a "long" history of violence, just because there are no photos that show violence does not mean that this organization is not violent!

@Barney Britton: Sorry, but they are not at the same level. Documenting war is one thing, and it sometimes can become excessive, too. But "documenting" extremism is going too far. Extremist groups need publicity to go on, they crave any type of attention, and the best way of hurting them is to ignore them in spite of their efforts to make themselves heard. So, I'm sorry to say, but yes, dpr has inadvertently and indirectly provided a platform for them.

wcbert: I never said the KKK wasn't violent. I was simply talking about this in terms of the ARTICLE itself. The actual article doesn't discuss KKK policy at all. The article talks about the PHOTOGRAPHER and his methods.

As far as marike6, this dude will have a dissenting opinion about almost anything and everything so any further discussion on his points is, well, pointless.

@JDThomas: DPR is a high traffic site. It attracts all kinds of people with the only common attribute of owning a camera. Sane people will probably see the "pathetic existence" you mentioned. But they are not the target of the "platform".

Before reading this I haven't even known that particular group still existed in a meaningful enough sense. Now I wonder... Please don't answer though. I'm not interested in their "way of life", as I am not interested at all in knowing the hobbies of -say - those criminals that were responsible for the Holocaust.

I don't know you are going on about "having my ego stroked. You said that I will ALWAYS have the dissenting opinion, but tons of people here are making the same points about the Klan.

Do you even read what you write? You are all over the place. The only thing sad is that you keep saying the same thing OVER and OVER again, while patting yourself on the back that you GET IT, and others DON'T. Everybody here understands.

A three year old knows that the story is about photojournalism, but that doesn't make a great choice of topic. What's next for DPR? "A year spent photographing a serial rapist". "A look at the wacky world of an axe murderer..."

@JDThomas: I guess we agree. I can't believe that those that are truly interested in education want to close out all that they disagree with. The only way to understand what those that hold differing views think, are about, is to communicate with them and understand them as much as possible. This does not mean that you agree with them.To condem the author/photographer is controlling the flow of knowledge. The censorship of information leads to ignorance. I read and view as much as possible about all points of view. It helps me better understand the world that we live in. Your comments about the glorification of organized crime being acceptable and the KKK is not are well taken.

@marike6: I guess by dissenting opinion I meant that you are always arguing about something. Whether it's which lens is sharper or which camera has better features. You always seem to act like you know everything better than everyone else.

I bet if you ever do step out into the sunlight of the real world you're not as loud and opinionated as you are on the internet.

@JDThomas wrote: "I bet if you ever do step out into the sunlight of the real world you're not as loud and opinionated as you are on the internet."

You don't know a thing about me, so maybe you should go back to your crossword puzzle and save you bets for bingo night. If not, perhaps I should remind you that personal attacks are against DPR policy. OK, dude.

@Marike6 Yes, it's a great choice of topic. It's an article about an amazing photojournalist who's able to earn the the trust & shoot very secretive fringe groups that most aren't allowed access to. It's a brilliant topic for a photography website. I mean- its as if your saying DPR shouldn't cover stories about photographers who shoot anything negative or controversial? To appease whom? People who have knee-jerk reactions anytime something like race & religion is even remotely mentioned? Perhaps you should re-read ClickBoom's post and explain to him why his point of view on this story is wrong...

Like JDThomas pointed out- You saying TV shows about meth cooks, killers & gangsters are your favorite, yet taking issue with this story is really hypocritical. Whether the shows are fiction or not is irelivent- they shed light & glorify murderers & drug dealers(whom exist in real life). And much, much more than this photographer & his photos. With those 2 shows- you actually find yourself routing for the bad guys.

@samhain Being opposed to what a group like the KKK stands for is not a knee-jerk reaction, it's the way I feel, and will always feel. You want to pretend to be some free speech at all cost advocate yet you say nothing about DPRs 1990s style expletive filter. Yes curse words offend some people and so does the Klan.

I have no idea what kind of parallel you guys are trying to draw with an award winning fictional TV show that happens to have some violence and a true to life hate group with a history of some of the most repugnant racially motivated violence this country has ever seen. I have no problem reading curse words but I have no interest in seeing images of the KKK. But I will defend DPRs right to print the images.

@JDThomas

It was a personal attack, and not at all a subtle one. Just so you know I'm a professional musician who has travelled to Europe on tour over 35 separate times. So you I'm guessing I've seen more sunlight and more of the world than you.

So so stupid some of this is. If the piece were about a photojournalist documenting the real-life world of drug dealers or prison gangs some poor wimpy emotional Rodney King school of Cant We All Just Get Along forum head would be crying foul, claiming DPR is "advocating" drug use and prisoner behavior. If is someone documenting the homeless it's an invasion of privacy or advocating social irresponsibility or some silly thing that one of you wusses takes offense to. What is its a documentary on Putin, or Clinton, or Herman The Frog?

GROW UP and grow a pair some of you. If you just can't help but read content that sets off all your sensitivity alarms DON'T FLIPPING READ IT. If you do, spare the rest of us your crybaby emotional scarring. Act like an adult even if its in a forum where men spar like little boys over who has a better camera or lens or bag or SD card. Get back to your reason for being her to begin with, which is to demonstrate how right you are about camera equipment.

I am also glad that this was not an article about a photographer who documented the inside goings-on in the Hostess Bakery. I don't think I could ever recover from knowing exactly how a Twinkie is made, and from what. Thanks DPR for not messing up my life and advocating being overweight and unhealthy eating.

Thank you DPReview for posting this. The US is a melting pot of all sorts, to say the least....

From an enthusiast's perspective, I hope Anthony Karen can read some of the compliments in these threads to his convictions in capturing a glimmer of daily life in this group.

Much respect to his tolerance and professionalism, which was surely tested among the KKK. If these "pictures say a thousand words," we readers only hear what we are imagining would fit the photo. What is actually said during these photos is a blending of staggering contrast, both a demonstration of loyalty among a small group of impoverished outcasts and a proclamation of visceral hate that eventually numbs even the most sensitive of hearts.

When I lived in the US (mainly California) for 10 years, whilst I did like the people from an integrity angle, I did get the feeling that the overly liberal attitude to freedom meant that there were a fair number of freaks. Those who had no self respect & horrifically overweight (the UK is catching up), those who spoke very loudly (obvious when they visit the UK and are on a train), wore fairly trashy clothes (also now common here in the UK), held strange views (mainly in middle America, like these folk I guess?) etc etc. And I assume this comes from the fact that here in the UK, we speak our minds and put people down who are somewhat off the rails. It can hurt, but it keeps (or did keep!) us Brits fairly respectable & tolerant, even if slightly xenophobic when it comes to change. These subjects are simply pretty simple & naive, like the terrorists who also project old school hate.

Anyway, honest photos - what the profession is all about - capturing life! (As opposed to taking it.)

How is it possible that the biggest modern & leading(??) country in the world has so much religion fanaticism & racism. Conservatism and fear! is the only reason I can think of as an outsider(Netherlands). I know it is only in parts of the US and racism can be found all over the world. But it has still an impact on me. Same as anti-homo, Tea-Party, anti-abortion etc. This might be ideas from only a few % of the US citizens, but they seem to have quiet an influence on politics however.

If I see pics of friends who travel in the US I lucky see a lot of great stuff!, but the above sometimes holds me back to make such a journey myself.

Well, of course the KKK and similar (reli)tard groups are the lowest of the low in the US.

But the last time when I was in Boston, and you see a bumper sticker with the text: "put a white guy in the white house" you think, it's the land of dreams, that's the only thing which holds it socially and culturally together, dreams (and that includes that 'G' thing they always refer to)

There is no more enslaved than the one who claims to be free. Racism is the same, most of time, those who claim to be victims are more racist than those they accuse. Racism, intergrism, blasphemy, heresy, all those things are most of time excuses used for just anything. Those who use those words are generally those that hide behind them to be allowed to do things that wil bring others in jail right away. I do not give examples, but look around you, some break, rob people, steal, destroy, break, and if you say something, your are mister bad guy, you are a racist. So, let's stay with the feet on the ground. No reason to belong to such groups as KKK? maybe, maybe not, all is a question of point of view, it may concern you or not, you chose.

That's a big pile of crap, Shamael. Your point of view would have to be seriously messed up to join a hate group like the kkk. The US was founded as a nation of laws and as such people have a proper way to settle differences. People here don't get to take the law into their own hands base on their point of view.

Petrogel: You are clearly engaging in exaggeration. The KKK is all but dead in the USA. People identifying themselves as Klan members only number in a few thousand in the USA. They are extremely rare. Yet you are comparing them to the populations of several nations? That is ridiculous. Shame on you!

"I don't know the "percentage " at all, i'm just trying to justify sizes of population groups"

You don't think very much, apparently. The US is a large country, with a population comparable to all of Europe. It is also geographically, climatically, ethnically, religiously, culturally and socially diverse to the extreme. In addition the US allows more freedom than most countries. Mix those factors and you will end up with many different outlooks, including some wackos. The majority of Americans are normal, but normal doesn't usually make headlines.

@lancespringI don't know how many kkk are left, if they are 8000 or even 8 i just don't care, I was not speaking to you when i did that comment not about the actual number of the kkk, it was for understanding the amount of numbers of population in European scale. I didn't want to offend you in any way !!!

@M DeNeroApparently you are not in position to know if i think much or not as you are not in position to understand what i've commented !!

You think that is a shotgun? Man, you obviously know nothing about firearms. Anyone knowledgeable about guns can easily see that is just a BB/Pellet air rifle. Read the actual story, and you will see that is indeed the case. The guy is in the act of killing a cockroach on the wall of their home.

Fear of the subject is the problem. There is no platform here that is promoting their way of thinking. Ignoring the existence of bad people won't make them go away, in fact the opposite is true. This isn't like some radical church whose only purpose is to insight people into violence in order to sue for damages. This is an old organization that people should at least be reminded about from time to time so they realize that the world they live in still has vestiges of old evil lingering. Hiding your head in the sand isn't going to do you any good, only education will. If there was an event that was being excessively covered and therefore motivating an organization to get more attention the same way, that's another matter. The people who have to deal with the KKK directly shouldn't be the only ones who care enough to fight back. Ignore the KKK and you abandon all those who need help countering their ignorance and hatred....and you counter it with more ignorance and hatred.

DPReview is has a worldwide audience, and this means you should respect the wishes of other people who want to see these photos here. I want to see these photos here and I like them a lot. I even produce my own similar photos with different social groups which I try and succeed to gain their trust for the purpose of photographing them.